Tilling implement and bearing assembly for use therewith

ABSTRACT

A tilling implement for use with a farm vehicle includes a frame, a tilling element attached to the frame, a bearing assembly configured to allow the tilling element to rotate relative to the frame. The bearing assembly can include a first race, a second race spaced apart from the first race to define a gap therebetween, a bearing rotatably disposed within the gap to allow relative movement between the first race and the second race, a seal including a flexible protrusion having a distal end that presses against the first race to seal off the gap, and a stop positioned adjacent to the flexible protrusion configured to prevent the distal end of the protrusion from bending towards the bearing.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present application relates generally to an improved tillingimplement for use with a farm vehicle as well as an improved bearingassembly suitable for use with such a tilling implement.

2. Background Art

A large variety of machines and techniques exist to prepare soil foragricultural or other use. For example, soil can be agitated to prepareit for planting or seeding by being turned over by a plow, cut by disks,pulverized by a harrow, as well as through the use of other techniquesand machines. Several existing tilling machines include the use ofrotating tools, such as rolling harrows, crumbler rollers, and othersimilar devices. Because such rotating tools are often dragged alongsoil and over foreign matter such as loose weeds, roots, and otherresidue, it is not uncommon for bearing assemblies used for tillingimplements to fail due to contamination. There is a continuous need forimproved tilling implements and related bearing assemblies that canbetter withstand such conditions.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In some embodiments of the present invention, a tilling implement foruse with a farm vehicle includes a frame, a tilling element attached tothe frame, and a bearing assembly configured to allow the tillingelement to rotate relative to the frame. The bearing assembly caninclude a bearing, a seal spaced from the bearing and having a flexibledistal end that presses against a portion of the bearing assembly toseal off a first portion of the bearing assembly containing the bearing,and a stop positioned adjacent to the seal to prevent the distal end ofthe seal from bending towards the bearing.

In some embodiments, a bearing assembly for a farm implement includes afirst race, a second race spaced apart from the first race to define agap therebetween, a bearing rotatably disposed within the gap to allowrelative movement between the first race and the second race, a sealincluding a flexible protrusion having a distal end that presses againstthe first race to seal off the gap, and a stop positioned adjacent tothe flexible protrusion configured to prevent the distal end of theprotrusion from bending towards the bearing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a tilling implement inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of a portion of the tilling implement ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of a portion of a tilling implementin accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a bearing assembly inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a top plan view of the bearing assembly of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 illustrates a sectional view of the bearing assembly of FIG. 4along line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 illustrates an enlarged sectional view of a portion of a sealingarrangement of the bearing assembly of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 illustrates the sectional view of FIG. 7 with the seal and sealring of the bearing assembly removed.

FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the bearing assembly ofFIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the present invention may be embodied in many different forms, anumber of illustrative embodiments are described herein with theunderstanding that the present disclosure is to be considered asproviding examples and not intended to limit the invention to thepreferred embodiments described and/or illustrated herein.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a tilling implement 10. In someembodiments, tilling implement 10 can be self-propelled, drawn by aperson or draft animal, or towed by a farm vehicle, such as a tractor oranother suitable machine. Tilling implement 10 includes a frame 12connected to wheels 14. Frame 12 includes a longitudinal portion 13 anda transverse portion 15 arranged in a generally T-shaped configuration.Frame 12 can further include a coupler 30 for removably attachingtilling implement 10 to a farm vehicle. A frame arm 16 extends from thetransverse portion of frame 12 and is connected to a leveling bar 18 anda basket arm 20. Basket arm 20 extends from frame arm 16 and isconnected to a first basket 22 and a second basket 24 via bearingassemblies 26 and 28 that allow baskets 22 and 24 to rotate with respectto basket arm 20. Generally speaking, bearing assemblies configured foruse with tilling implement 10 can allow one or more tilling elements,such as rolling baskets, rolling harrows, crumbler rollers, and/or othersimilar devices to rotate relative to frame 12. The rotation of tillingelements can result from the tilling elements being pulled along theground and/or can be power assisted for example through a powertake-off. Such bearing assemblies can additionally or alternatively beused with other rotating parts of tilling implement 10 or other suitabledevices.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of a portion of tilling implement 10. Astilling implement 10 is moved across soil 32 in direction 34, levelingbar 18 can knock down ridges in soil 32, which can leave an even surfacethat facilitates planting or further soil conditioning. First basket 22can, for example, be in the form of an “aggressive” style rolling basketand can include one or more spiraled, pitched blades 36 that penetrateand/or shatter soil 32 for soil conditioning, residue, chemical mixing,or for another purpose. Second basket 24 can be in the form of a“passive” style rolling basket and can, for example, include spiraled,straight blades 38 that smooth and level the surface of soil 32 whichcan result in more uniform germination and emergence, or another desiredresult. In some embodiments, tilling implement 10 can includealternative or additional tilling or soil conditioning tools. In someembodiments, tilling implement 10 can include only a single basket, orsome other combination of the above devices.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of a portion of another embodimentof a tilling implement. In this embodiment, basket arm 39 is rotatablyattached to a single basket 40 via bearing assembly 42. Bearing assembly42 can be attached to basket arm 20 and basket 40 via one or more bolts44 and/or other suitable fasteners.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate various views of bearing assembly 46. Inparticular, FIG. 4 illustrates a top perspective view of bearingassembly 46 and FIG. 5 illustrates a top plan view of bearing assembly46. One or more bearings (shown, for example in FIG. 6 at 76) can berotatably housed within an assembly housing 48 of bearing assembly 46.As shown in FIG. 4, assembly housing 48 can be formed from two pieces ofmaterial with a seam 50 defined therebetween. In some embodiments,assembly housing 48 can be formed from a single piece of material or canbe formed from more than two pieces of material. Assembly housing 48 caninclude a flange 52 extending therefrom. Flange 52 can include one ormore rivets 56 for securing assembly housing 48 together. Flange 52 canfurther include one or more bolt holes 58 for attaching bearing assembly46 to a rotating portion of tilling implement 10 such as basket 22. Boltholes 58 can be circular as shown for example in FIG. 4, or square asshown for example in FIG. 5.

A rotatable inner race 60 is positioned relative to assembly housing 48such that a bearing assembly gap 62 is defined therebetween to allowrelative rotation between inner race 60 and assembly housing 48. A bore64 can be formed in inner race 60 for receiving a shaft or another partof tilling implement 10.

Various suitable dimensions for bearing assembly 46 are shown in FIG. 5.For example, diameter 54 of bearing assembly 46 can be about 6″. Width66 of bore 64 can, for example, be about 13/16″. Width 68 of bolt holes58 can, for example, be about 17/32″. Bolt holes 58 can be formed in acircle around a center axis of bearing assembly 46, with the circlehaving a diameter 70 of about 5″.

FIGS. 6-8 illustrate sectional views of bearing assembly 46. Inparticular, FIG. 6 illustrates a sectional view of bearing assembly 46along line 6-6 of FIG. 5, FIG. 7 illustrates an enlarged view of aportion of a sealing arrangement of FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 illustrates theview of FIG. 7 with portions of the sealing arrangement removed. Bearingassembly 46 includes inner race 60 and an outer race 72. Inner race 60and outer race 72 can be radially spaced apart to define a bearing gap74. In some embodiments, such as certain linear bearing assemblies,inner race 60 and outer race 72 can, for example, be linearly spacedapart to define a bearing gap. Bearing gap 74 can be filled at leastpartially with suitable bearing grease. For example, bearing gap 74 canbe filled from about 60% to about 80% with bearing grease.

Bearing assembly 46 further includes one or more bearings 76 rotatablydisposed within bearing gap 74 to allow relative movement between innerrace 60 and outer race 72. Bearing 76 can be in the form of a ballbearing, roller bearing, or another suitable type of bearing.

Both inner race 60 and outer race 72 include respective annular grooves78 and 80 in opposed relation to one another for receiving portions ofbearing 76. Grooves 78 and 80 can be in the form of a semi-circularannular recess or another suitable groove shape. Bearing 76 can befurther secured within bearing assembly 46 via a bearing retainer 82.Bearing retainer 82 can be made entirely or partially of plastic, metal,or another suitable material. Outer race 72 can be fixed to assemblyhousing 48 against one or more O-rings 84.

Bearing assembly 46 further includes a seal 86 held in compressionbetween inner race 60 and outer race 72 for sealing bearing assembly gap62. Seal 86 can be made entirely or partially of an elastomeric materialsuch as rubber or another suitable seal material. As identified in FIG.7, seal 86 can include one or more flexible lips 88, 90, and 92 thatprotrude from a base 94 of seal 86. Each lip 88, 90, and 92 can have adistal end, such as distal end 96 of lip 88, that presses against innerrace 60 to seal bearing assembly gap 62, thereby sealing off a portionof bearing assembly 46. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, for example,inner race 60 includes a cylindrical surface 106 facing the seal 86 andlips 88, 90, and 92 are configured to press against the surface 106 toseal off a portion of bearing assembly 46 by bending against the surface106 in a direction away from bearing 76. Bearing assembly 46 can includea seal ring 98 to affix seal 86 to outer race 72. Seal ring 98 can, forexample, be press fitted to outer race 72 or another portion of bearingassembly 46. Seal ring 98 can be made entirely or partially of metal,plastic, or another suitable seal ring material. Bearing assembly 46 caninclude a second seal 100 and a second seal ring 102 that seals offanother portion of bearing assembly 46.

Bearing assembly 46 further includes a stop 104 positioned adjacent tolip 88 and configured to prevent distal end 96 of lip 88 from bendingtowards bearing 76. In the embodiment of FIG. 6, inner race 60, outerrace 72, seal 86, and stop 104 are concentric annular members. In someembodiments, stop 104 can be positioned to extend underneath a portionof lip 88 to force lip 88 to be bent away from bearing 76 at a desiredangle or curve. Stop 104 includes an abutment face for contacting lip88. In some embodiments, such as in the embodiment of FIG. 6, theabutment face is a frustoconical surface with an outer diameter thatincreases at an angle θ (shown in FIG. 8) of about 135 degrees relativeto cylindrical surface 106. In some embodiments, the abutment surfacemay be oriented perpendicular to surface 106 or at an angle θ betweenabout 90 degrees and about 135 degrees relative to surface 106. Thesurface of stop 104 and/or surface 106 of inner race 60 can be anothersuitable shape, orientation, or angle. In some embodiments, the abutmentsurface of stop 104 is curved or angled, for example, to define adesired bend of lip 88. Distal end 96 of protrusion 88 can seal off aportion of bearing 76 by bending against inner race 60 in a firstdirection away from bearing 76. In such a configuration, stop 104 can bepositioned adjacent a side of seal 86 opposite the first direction. Forexample, in configurations wherein lip 88 is curved to form a concaveshape against inner race 60 and away from bearing 76, stop 104 can bepositioned on the convex side of lip 88 between bearing 76 and lip 88.The length, thickness, and other parameters of lip 88 can be configuredsuch that lip 88 does not bend upward over stop 104 even in response toexcessive force against lip 88.

In some embodiments, lips 88, 90, and 92 can be positioned with respectto stop 104 and each other such that the distal end of lip 90 abutsagainst lip 88 to prevent the distal end of lip 90 from bending towardsbearing 76 when the distal end of lip 88 is bent away from bearing 76.Likewise, lips 88, 90, and 92 can be positioned with respect to stop 104and each other such that the distal end of lip 92 abuts against lip 90to prevent the distal end of lip 92 from bending towards bearing 76 whenthe distal end of lip 90 is bent away from bearing 76.

As shown in FIG. 6, stop 104 can be defined by a ridge 108 protrudingradially outward from inner race 60 into gap 74. In some embodiments,ridge 108 includes a cylindrical outer surface 109 and a groove 78formed in the outer surface 109 to receive bearings 76. In someembodiments, such as in the embodiment of FIG. 6, ridge 108 has anangled, for example frustoconical, shoulder defining stop 104. In someembodiments, ridge 108 defines two stops 104 at opposite sides of innerrace 60.

FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-sectional view of bearing assembly 46 showingvarious dimensions of bearing assembly 46. Width 110 of outer race 72can be about 1.257″. Outer diameter 112 of outer race 72 can be about3.398″. Width 114 of inner race 60 can be about 1.691″. Diameter 116 ofbearing 76 can be about 0.500″. Diameter 118 of radial surface 106 ofridge 108 can be about 2.260″. Distance 120 from an edge of radialsurface 106 of ridge 108 to an edge of a second ridge 122 in bearingassembly 46 can be about 0.686″. Distance 124 from an edge of radialsurface of ridge 108 to a lateral edge of inner race 60 can be about0.503″. A length 126 of ridge 108 can be about 0.078″. A length 128 fromwhere lip 88 extends from seal 86 to an edge of outer race 72 can beabout 0.299″. Decimal tolerances for dimensions identified herein can,for example, be +/−0.010″. Fractional tolerances for dimensionsidentified herein can, for example, be +/− 1/16″.

In operation, as tilling implement 10 moves across soil 32, one or moretilling elements, such as first basket 22 and second basket 24 aredragged along and rotated against soil 32. Contaminants, such as dirt,loose weeds, roots, and other residue pass through bearing assembly gap62 but are prevented from entering bearing gap 74 because of seal 86. Inparticular, first lip 88, second lip 90, and third lip 92 press againstinner race 60 to seal off bearing 76 from the contaminants. As morecontaminants pass through bearing assembly gap 62, they will applypressure to lips 88, 90, and 92 to bend inward towards bearing 76.However, due to stop 104, at least lip 88 will be prevented from bendingtowards bearing 76. In some embodiments, lips 88, 90, and 92 arepositioned relative to stop 104 and each other to prevent any of lips88, 90, and 92 from bending towards bearing 76.

All numbers in this description indicating amounts, ratios of materials,physical properties of materials, and/or use are to be understood asmodified by the word “about,” except as otherwise explicitly indicated.The choice of materials for the parts described herein can be informedby the requirements of mechanical properties, temperature sensitivity,moldability properties, or any other factor apparent to a person havingordinary skill in the art. For example, one more of the parts describedherein (or a portion of one of the parts) can be made from suitablemetals, alloys, plastics, and/or other suitable materials.

While the embodiments presented herein have been set forth and describedin detail for the purposes of making a full and complete disclosure ofthe subject matter thereof, such disclosure is not intended to belimiting in any way with respect to the true scope of this invention asthe same is set forth in the appended claims.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing Abstract is to enable the U.S.Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially thescientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiarwith patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from acursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure ofthe application. The Abstract is not intended to be limiting as to thescope of the present invention in any way.

We claim:
 1. A tilling implement for use with a farm vehicle, thetilling apparatus including: a frame; a tilling element attached to theframe; and a bearing assembly configured to allow the tilling element torotate relative to the frame, the bearing assembly including: a bearing;a seal spaced from the bearing and having a flexible distal end thatpresses against a portion of the bearing assembly to seal off a firstportion of the bearing assembly containing the bearing; and a stoppositioned adjacent to the seal to prevent the distal end of the sealfrom bending towards the bearing.
 2. The tilling apparatus of claim 1,wherein the tilling element is a disc harrow.
 3. The tilling apparatusof claim 1, further comprising: a coupler configured to removablyconnect the frame to the farm vehicle.
 4. The tiling apparatus of claim1, wherein the tilling apparatus is configured to be towed behind thefarm vehicle.
 5. A bearing assembly for a farm implement, the bearingassembly comprising: a first race; a second race spaced apart from thefirst race to define a gap therebetween; a bearing rotatably disposedwithin the gap to allow relative movement between the first race and thesecond race; a seal including a flexible protrusion having a distal endthat presses against the first race to seal off the gap; and a stoppositioned adjacent to the flexible protrusion configured to prevent thedistal end of the protrusion from bending towards the bearing.
 6. Thebearing assembly of claim 5, wherein the first race is configured to becoupled to a rotatable shaft of a farm implement.
 7. The bearingassembly of claim 5, further comprising: an assembly housing including aflange for attaching the bearing assembly to a frame of the farmimplement.
 8. The bearing assembly of claim 5, wherein the distal end ofthe flexible protrusion seals off a portion of the bearing by bendingagainst the first race in a first direction away from the bearing. 9.The bearing assembly of claim 8, wherein the stop is positioned adjacenta side of the seal opposite the first direction.
 10. The bearingassembly of claim 8, wherein the stop contacts a portion of the flexibleprotrusion.
 11. The bearing assembly of claim 5, wherein the stop isdefined by a ridge protruding from the first race.
 12. The bearingassembly of claim 5, wherein the stop includes a frustoconical surfacefacing the protrusion.
 13. The bearing assembly of claim 12, wherein thefirst race includes a cylindrical surface for contacting the protrusion,and wherein the frustoconical surface of the stop is oriented at anangle ranging from about 90 degrees to about 135 degrees relative to thecylindrical surface of the first race.
 14. The bearing assembly of claim11, wherein a groove is formed in said ridge to receive a portion of thebearing.
 15. The bearing assembly of claim 5, further comprising: asecond seal including a second flexible protrusion having a distal endthat presses against the first race to seal off a second portion of thebearing.
 16. The bearing assembly of claim 5, wherein the seal includesthree flexible protrusions, each of the protrusions having a distal endthat seals off a portion of the bearing by pressing against the firstrace.
 17. The bearing assembly of claim 5, wherein the bearing is a ballbearing.
 18. The bearing assembly of claim 5, wherein the first raceincludes a first groove for receiving a portion of the bearing, andwherein the second race includes a second groove for receiving a portionof the bearing.
 19. The bearing assembly of claim 5, wherein the firstand second races, the seal, and the stop are concentric annular members.